Five high-speed train projects in the US that promise fast and comfortable travel

It is no secret that the United States lags behind other developed countries in the development of high-speed rail transport. More than 20 countries, mostly in Europe and Asia, have such railways, while the US has yet to build its first. Proposals appeared and disappeared, and projects died out for decades. Edition The Washington Post collected 5 promising construction projects that are still waiting for their implementation.

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The ambitions ranged from traditional high-speed systems connecting mega-regions to maglev trains and hyperloop trains zipping through a tube.

The fastest train in the country is Amtrak's Acela, reaching speeds of 150 miles (241 km) per hour. The new Acela trains due next year are expected to reach speeds of 160 miles (257 km) per hour, still below the 186 miles (300 km) per hour considered high speed worldwide.

Here are five US projects that have raised the prospects for a high-speed rail system.

Amtrak Acela high-speed trains

• Proposed in 2011
• 28 trains for 457 miles (735 km) of track
• $2,5 billion program

Acela's new high-speed trains will begin running through the country's busiest rail stations from next year, marking a significant step towards a modern, faster and more reliable intercity rail system. These trains will allow the reconstruction of passenger traffic in the busy Northeast Corridor, which will increase safety, comfort and capacity.

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Noteworthy: The new Acela trains will reach speeds of up to 160 miles (257 km) per hour on various sections of the Washington-Boston route. While not considered truly high-speed, the program would be faster than existing trains and would include track improvements to reduce travel time.

Problem: While higher speeds can be achieved, the 28 trains will run slower than trains in other projects across the country as the Acela runs on conventional tracks shared with other intercity, commuter and freight trains.

Financing: The program is fully funded. Amtrak is using a $2,45 billion federal loan provided in 2016 to pay for trains and upgrade infrastructure.

Deadline: The new trains were originally expected to arrive in 2021, but their launch has been delayed until 2024.

Brightline West

• Proposed in 2005
• 265 miles (426 km) of track
• Cost $12 billion

The electrified rail line will run between Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga, California. The speed of trains will be 186 miles (300 km) per hour. Supporters of the project claim that the system will remove about 3 million cars from the roads and increase the flow of tourists between Nevada and California.

Noteworthy: Brightline is the only privately owned intercity passenger railroad in the United States. It is expanding its Florida service to Orlando, providing a rare intercity train connection at a major airport and allowing travel from Miami in three hours.

Problem: Costs for the Las Vegas-Southern California line continue to rise. Over the past year, cost estimates have increased by $3 billion, which project management partly attributes to inflation.

Financing: Brightline says it has invested $600 million in the project and is asking for $3,75 billion in federal infrastructure funding to cover about a third of the project's cost. A $25 million federal grant in June will help pay for the design and construction of two stations in California. According to project representatives, the rest will be financed from private sources.

Deadline: The laying of the first stone is possible until the end of 2023, then four years of construction and possible passenger transportation for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

California High Speed ​​Rail

• Proposed in 1994
• 500 miles (804 km) of track
• Cost $128 billion

Electrified trains traveling at 220 miles (354 km) per hour will carry passengers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in less than three hours if California's ambitious rail project goes ahead. In the future, the system could stretch 800 miles (1 km) connecting Sacramento and San Diego. Proponents of the project claim that its implementation will reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to stopping 287 thousand cars.

Noteworthy: This is the first high-speed rail system being built in the United States. This is the largest investment in passenger rail service since Amtrak's inception more than half a century ago.

Problems: Voters approved the project in 2008, but as the cost of the project (originally estimated at $33 billion) rises in price and the project's timeline increases, overall support is waning.

Financing: The project has received $25 billion, including $3,6 billion in federal grants, with California paying 85% of the cost. The California High-Speed ​​Rail Authority is seeking $8 billion in federal funding under the Infrastructure Act.

Deadline: The $35,3 billion Merced-Bakersfield section, currently under construction, is projected to be ready for passenger service in 2030-2033. According to project representatives, the opening of the entire line will depend on the availability of funding. The project initially envisioned trains running between Los Angeles and San Francisco by 2030.

High speed train in Texas

• Proposed in 2013
• 240 miles (386 km) of track
• Cost $30 billion

The trains will carry passengers at speeds of up to 200 miles (321 km) per hour from Dallas to Houston in 90 minutes. Proponents say the system will carry more than 2029 million passengers by 6 and save travelers on the booming corridor an hour to 90 minutes of travel time compared to traveling by car.

Noteworthy: The Texas project is seen as a potential turnaround for the industry. Supporters of the project say it could change the political dynamic in Washington regarding high-speed rail if the project is implemented in the Republican-led state. Some conservatives, including those in Texas, oppose high-speed rail projects and even withhold federal funding.

Problem: Although the Texas Supreme Court has cleared Texas Central's right of way, the company continues to face opposition and lawsuits from property owners along the route's path. Recently, the company has undergone a change in management, and significant progress has not been made in financing the project and acquiring property.

Financing: The project's initial cost of $10 billion has grown to $30 billion in recent years. Texas Central has applied for $12 billion in federal loans and recently partnered with Amtrak to secure federal funding to develop the line.

Deadline: According to outdated forecasts, construction was supposed to begin in 2020, and trains would begin running in 2026. More recent estimates have not yet been published.

Cascadia

• Proposed in 2017
• 413 miles (664 km) of track
• Preliminary cost from $24 to $42 billion

The train system, traveling at speeds of up to 250 miles (402 km) per hour, will connect the cities of Vancouver, Seattle and Portland. Although the project is in the early stages of planning, proponents say the rail line could generate $355 billion in economic activity in the region over two decades.

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Noteworthy: The Federal Railroad Administration has classified this corridor as one of those with the greatest potential for high-speed rail development. The new rail line will complement Amtrak's Cascades route, which will reach speeds of 79 miles (127 km) per hour.

Problem: As part of the planning process, a two-state, two-country governance structure must be established to bring the project to the construction stage. Sources of funding must be identified and the right to lay a route passing through urban areas, uneven terrain, large rivers and an international border must be obtained.

Financing: The proposed Pacific Northwest line, backed by Microsoft, is being considered as a possible public-private partnership. Microsoft has committed more than $500 to the feasibility study, and the State of Washington recently approved funding for additional research and development. Currently, work is underway to apply for federal grants.

Deadline: A feasibility study prepared five years ago suggested the road would be open by 2035, although a federal environmental review could take several years. According to officials, "construction will not start for some time."

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